Australia gets badminton reprieve after 'tanking' players expelled from London Olympics

Australian pair Renuga Veeran and Leanne Choo have been reinstated into the women's doubles competition after teams from China, South Korea and Indonesia were expelled for "tanking". Source: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA'S doubles women badminton players have been recalled from "partying" to play in the quarter-finals after Chinese, Korean and Indonesian players were disqualified for "tanking".

The shock disqualification of eight players means Australia's Renuga Veeran and Leanne Choo were rushed back into the competition despite being defeated in their third game on Monday.

Australian team coach Lasse Bundgaard complained to the sports governing body and urged it to take action after farcical scenes on the badminton courts at Wembley on Tuesday night when China's top seeds blatantly played to lose against a Korean pair, who then also appeared to stop trying.

Players in two matches were booed off court by disgusted spectators after they appeared to deliberately serve into the net or hit the shuttlecock long or wide.

It seemed to be an attempt to manipulate the final standings in the first-round group stage with two pairs who had already qualified from the group stage jockeying to play weaker opponents